Ask HN: Do you like reading about startups more than doing one?

#1

Post by codeodor » Sat, Apr 25, 2009, 7:08 AM UTC

I struggled with posting this question. Not so much the question as to whether or not have something here in the text box.

On one side, the question begs to be asked. On the other, I'm thinking it must have been asked in the past. And for maximum effect, it would do best without any commentary.

So what to do?

Have you started your startup, or are you waiting? Will you ever start it?

It begs to be asked.

(Interestingly, these came up in the cursory google search. http://www.paulgraham.com/love.html http://www.paulgraham.com/start.html)

Re: Ask HN: Do you like reading about startups more than doing one?

#2

Post by dannyr » Sat, Apr 25, 2009, 7:14 AM UTC

I was like that and now, I don't read as much anymore. A lot of them are pretty much the same anyway.

I'm working on my startup but been very scared of putting it out to the public. (Well, I hope that is going to change soon.)

That's another obstacle to hurdle. You work on it but releasing it is a different thing.

Re: Ask HN: Do you like reading about startups more than doing one?

#3

Post by wooster » Sat, Apr 25, 2009, 7:29 AM UTC

I started my startup. It's more fun than reading about them, although reading about them is fun too.

Re: Ask HN: Do you like reading about startups more than doing one?

#4

Post by charlesju » Sat, Apr 25, 2009, 7:40 AM UTC

I am in the middle of a pretty product intensive startup right now, and I truly miss the glory days in college where I'd dream with my friends about all the great ideas that we could do.

Reading about startups brings back a lot of those feelings.

So to answer your question. I have started my startup, but I still like reading about startups, sometimes more-so than actually doing my own.

Re: Ask HN: Do you like reading about startups more than doing one?

#5

Post by codeodor » Sat, Apr 25, 2009, 7:44 AM UTC

For my own situation, I've not started one. It's still a dream, but one I've kept on the wayside by working for startups as opposed to having my own.

Re: Ask HN: Do you like reading about startups more than doing one?

#6

Post by dennykmiu » Sat, Apr 25, 2009, 7:52 AM UTC

Reading -> Starting -> Writing

Reading about startups was very important when I was in the learning mode. Then once I started, I stopped reading. Now that I have sold my business, I started writing, hoping that someone else would be reading.

http://StartupForLess.org

Re: Ask HN: Do you like reading about startups more than doing one?

#7

Post by quellhorst » Sat, Apr 25, 2009, 8:12 AM UTC

Its hard for me to work on mine. Too busy helping build other people's startups. Fortunately it looks like this year maybe the last year I do contracting and switch to full-time startup mode.

Re: Ask HN: Do you like reading about startups more than doing one?

#8

Post by alanthonyc » Sat, Apr 25, 2009, 8:23 AM UTC

I've started. I've already been self employed for a couple of years. But since it's been as someone selling hours of work for pay, it doesn't count

The past couple of months, I've been working on an actual product. That's my startup. (I hope to have a minimal feature set version ready for launch this summer.)

Reading about this stuff leads to ideas for doing it though.

Re: Ask HN: Do you like reading about startups more than doing one?

#9

Post by zackattack » Sat, Apr 25, 2009, 8:41 AM UTC

In some capacity, yes, because I spend most of my time reading and researching instead of getting down with the nitty-gritty. On the other hand, I don't have an idea I want to implement.

I currently have a Bulgarian programmer making me a Flash game. But I'd rather have something I could devote myself to for 10+ hrs/day.

Re: Ask HN: Do you like reading about startups more than doing one?

#10

Post by sid » Sat, Apr 25, 2009, 8:53 AM UTC

I actually started first and then began to read, kind of counter intuitive but it wasnt on purpose.

Reason is in my circle of friends when i was at uni we didnt talk much of startups. Actually it was unheard of, stable job was the way to go. I had ideas back then but never implemented them cause it was all about the big income in a big company.

If i knew of this world of startups and this whole startup scene i would have probably started about 2 years out of uni cause its dam more exciting and fun plus the payoff for hard/smart work is actually there. I guess everyones path is different and things happen for a reason, main thing is im here now so its all good.

Now its been 5 years out of uni and im almost done with my first startup. Its been about a year in the making. Designing, planning, coding and then reading as i went along. We are about 2 months away (doing final testing) and quite excited and scared at the same time.

If all goes well the i will do more reading (cause i'll need to know alot more) and myself and the team wont be looking back ... full steam ahead.